Matt Grice: UFC Fight of the Night Vet Who Survived Two Car Wrecks and a Coma

Matt “The Real One” Grice was supposed to be unbreakable. A four-time Oklahoma state wrestling champion at Harrah High School, three-time Outstanding Wrestler, and the most recruited wrestler in his weight class, a car wreck threw him through a windshield and stole the college career everyone saw coming. He clawed his way back, made it to the UFC, earned Fight of the Night honors against Jason Black and Dennis Bermudez, then a second crash in Shawnee shattered his skull and ended his fighting career. Most men would have stayed down. Grice didn’t. He rebuilt his life as an Oklahoma City police officer, coach, and gym owner.On episode 347 of the MMA History Podcast, Matt Grice sits down with Mike Davis and Joey Venti to recount his legendary high school career, the wreck that cost him his years at Oklahoma, the promise he kept to his parents before his first fight, his UFC run, the 2013 accident that put him in a coma, and how he came back to coach the next generation at American Elite MMA.0:00 start 0:44 MMA History Podcast intro1:16 Joey Venti’s guest introductions1:31 interview start 1:47 current life/ career 2:23 4 time state champ in Oklahoma4:12 recruiting process for wrestling 7:30 getting hurt in a car crash 8:54 wrestling while injured 11:47 taking a season off wrestling 13:05 meeting MMA coach Jason Merrill14:46 competing in BJJ after 1 day or practice 17:57 taking first amateur fight19:32 relationship with Ron Tripp20:16 Mikey Burnett20:51 training with Anthony Macias 21:45 Matt Grice vs Matt Grey 23:17 choosing to do MMA over wrestling 24:10 being a ticket seller 24:41 Matt Grice vs Marco Adamballi24:58 Matt Grice vs Rocky Long 26:35 taking 3 fights in 2 months 27:17 Matt Grice vs Shervin Alavi28:31 Matt Grice vs Joe Davis 29:22 Matt Grice vs Lee King 29:43 manager Greg Stewart 30:55 Matt Grice vs Dan Marks 33:46 offered to be on TUF 35:40 Matt Grice vs Clint Kerley36:52 flying out to Manchester for UFC debut 37:54 UFC 70 card38:34 Matt Grice vs Terry Etim 39:20 taking training seriously 41:00 how traveling affects a fighters lungs 42:13 Matt Grice vs Jason Black 45:00 accepted into the police academy 50:22 work day as a police officer 53:51 Matt Grice vs Matt Veach57:00 Matt Grice vs Shannon Gugerty58:42 training at shape fitness 1:00:47 getting cut from the UFC1:02:20 having a supportive wife 1:04:08 current coaches at gym 1:06:03 Matt Grice vs Dave Gardner 1:07:57 earning 3 straight finishes 1:09:09 Matt Grice vs Ricardo Lamas 1:09:51 experience training at Top Notch1:12:05 connecting with Tom Vanghn1:12:55 2 cancelled bouts in the UFC1:13:26 Matt Grice vs Leonard Garcia 1:15:19 Matt Grice vs Dennis Bermudez1:17:06 crashed into at a red light 1:20:59 ending up in a coma after accident 1:28:40 choosing not to take medications1:30:06 Matt Grice day April 4th1:33:32 life after accident 1:35:25 outro/ closing thoughtsInstagram https://www.instagram.com/mmahistorypodcast?igsh=aHVweHdncXQycHBy&utm_source=qrSpotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3q8KsfqrSQSjkdPLkdtNWb?si=aL3D5Y3aTDi-PQZdweWL8gApple Podcast MMA History PodcastYouTube https://youtube.com/@MMAHistoryPodcast?si=bj1RBXTZ2X82tv_JOutro song: Power - https://tunetank.com/t/2gji/1458-powerMike - The MMA Detective - @mikedavis632 Cash App - $mikedavis1231Venmo - Mike-Davis-63ZELLE: Cutthroatmma@gmail.com / ph#: 773-491-5052 Thank You for your support#MMAHistory #UFC #Wrestling #Oklahoma